In the Demon Domain, continents vanished one after another. The third territory in the Small Sealed World was gradually nearing completion. Yang Kai, cultivating within the Ancient Battlefield, had long lost all sense of time, only aware that he grew a fraction stronger with every passing period.
When the Ancient Battlefield, which had once spanned several hundred thousand li, had been reduced to half its original size, a change occurred within it that even Yang Kai had not anticipated.
On this day, he opened his eyes, silently assessing his own changes, then inquired of Bo Ya about the situation outside. Upon learning that a certain continent out there would need at least a few more days to be fully devoured, he focused his mind and strode forward.
Only when he reached his limit did he sit cross-legged, opening his heart and mind. As before, the two forces suffusing the Ancient Battlefield immediately surged towards him, as if granted an outlet, using his body as a vessel and a battlefield to clash and continue that earth-shaking battle from ancient times, seemingly destined to finally decide a victor.
Yang Kai's brow furrowed slightly. Something felt different this time, as if an additional element were present, but when he probed carefully, he found nothing. He felt a touch of doubt, wondering if he was merely being oversensitive.
But just as this thought arose, two figures suddenly impressed themselves upon his mind's eye—one towering, propping up the sky and earth, the other minuscule, its volume less than one ten-thousandth of the towering figure's. Yet this tiny figure was clearly locked in combat with the colossal giant, and the fight was fierce, evenly matched.
Yang Kai's spirit stirred, nearly jolting him out of that mysterious state. However, he quickly steadied his mind. Only upon careful sensing did he realize these two figures felt somewhat familiar.
These two figures were not seen with the physical eye but perceived by the mind's spirit. Yet for some reason, whether the colossal figure or the tiny one, they gave Yang Kai an impression of being inscrutable. Their faces and forms were blurred and indistinct, shrouded in primordial chaos.
Yang Kai could only tell they were fighting, but had no idea what heaven-defying techniques they were employing, which left him itching with curiosity.
This Ancient Battlefield was the site where the Time Emperor had battled a powerful Demon Race expert. Now, during his quiet cultivation and comprehension, two figures had suddenly imprinted themselves upon his mind. No matter how dense Yang Kai might be, he could guess who these two figures were.
They were the Time Emperor and a powerhouse suspected to be the Great Demon God!
Having absorbed the residual Martial Dao True Intent they left behind, Yang Kai's mind had traversed time and space to witness that past struggle. If he could observe it closely, the gains would undoubtedly be immense.
But now, Yang Kai could only "see" two blurred figures. Forget the techniques they used; he couldn't even make out their appearances clearly. How could he observe anything?
Not knowing was one thing, but having guessed and yet being unable to peer deeper truly made Yang Kai anxious.
A thought flashed through his mind: he had never "seen" such a scene before. It must be because he had been cultivating here, comprehending their Martial Dao True Intent, gradually grasping its essence, which granted him this opportunity today.
Since that was the case, as long as he continued his cultivation, the day would come when he could see clearly.
With this realization, Yang Kai calmed his mind and focused his spirit, no longer paying attention to the two battling figures, and immersed himself even more deeply in comprehension.
By the time the Ancient Battlefield's area had halved again, Yang Kai had been cultivating here for over thirty years.
The difference in time flow had granted Yang Kai a unique advantage. According to Bo Ya, less than a year had passed since they arrived in the Demon Domain.
Thirty years of bitter Cultivation had completely transformed Yang Kai. What comforted him was that ever since he had first been able to "see" that battle between those two with his mind's spirit, the scene had never vanished. Each time he grew stronger, he would attempt to observe their battle again, though each attempt had ended in failure.
But this time would finally be different. When Yang Kai focused his spirit to look again, the two figures were initially still completely blurred, impossible to discern.
However, moments later, they seemed to sharpen slightly. Yang Kai's spirit soared, and he observed with even greater concentration. Within his sea of consciousness, divine sense surged, spiritual sea waters churned, waves piled upon waves—he was clearly exerting his full effort.
Just as he felt a splitting pain in his mind and a wave of dizziness, he suddenly saw the tiny figure form several seals with its hands. Time Law circulated around its body, and then it slowly extended a palm forward.
Yang Kai's eyes lit up. Those seals, that palm's power—he was intimately familiar with them.
This was none other than the Shuttle of Time Seal!
And it was the Shuttle of Time Seal wielded by the Time Emperor himself.
This technique was the Time Emperor's signature divine ability. Yang Kai had once, by chance, obtained the Four Season Pearls. From these pearls, he had comprehended a sliver of the rudiments of the Time Law and obtained the Shuttle of Time Seal. But that had been through his own comprehension, and whether he had truly grasped the essence of this divine ability was anyone's guess.
Yang Kai had originally felt that even if his version of the seal lacked the Time Emperor's essence, it would at least not bring disgrace to the Emperor.
But now, having witnessed the Emperor's hand, Yang Kai finally understood how laughable his previous thoughts were.
The same Shuttle of Time Seal, when used by Yang Kai versus when used by the Emperor, differed in power like the light of a firefly compared to the radiance of the full moon. While the immense gap in their inherent strength was certainly a factor, it also stemmed from Yang Kai's failure to fully comprehend the Time Law.
Furthermore, the phantom lingering here now was merely a manifestation of Martial Dao True Intent—not the Emperor himself striking.